The parents of a teenaged girl who was swarmed, beaten and drowned in Victoria have received B.C.’s highest honour for promoting community safety and crime prevention.

Suman and Manjit Virk’s 14-year-old daughter Reena Virk was killed in November 1997.

Since then, they have spoken in schools and at community events to draw attention to bullying while working to promote restorative justice.

“The Virks are the very embodiment of this lifetime achievement award,” Solicitor General Kash Heed said after the couple received the Anthony J. Hulme Award of Distinction, which represents extraordinary lifetime contribution and commitment.

“They have drawn valuable lessons from their devastating personal tragedy that they share with young people in order to fight the scourge of bullying, and promote restorative justice to make British Columbia communities safer,” Heed said.